Cutting game with timer

ABSTRACT

Game apparatus comprising paper sheet material having currency outline markings which may be cut apart for use in purchasing wearing apparel for dressing doll figures. A timing device is provided for limiting the time period during which the player may use the scissors. The timing device includes a movable pointer and a number of openings for receiving the blades of the scissors. When the blades are inserted into an opening, the sound timer is rendered inoperative until they are removed.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Marvin I. Glm;

Jeffrey D. Breslow, both of Chicago, Ill. [21] Appl. No. 797,928 [22]Filed Feb. I0, 1969 {45] Patented July 13, 1971 [73] Assignee MarvinGlass & Associates Chicago, Ill.

[54] CUTTING GAME WITH TIMER 4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.CI. 273/1 R, 46/ I 57 [51] Int. Cl A631 9/00 [50] FieldofSearchm. 273/1 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,458,1897/1969 Holt 273/1 3,463,487 8/1969 Tepper 3,471,149 10/1969 GlassetalPrimary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner- Paul E. ShapiroAttorneys-James F. Coffee and Gerald M. Newman ABSTRACT: Game apparatuscomprising paper sheet material having currency outline markings whichmay be cut apart for use in purchasing wearing apparel for dressing dollfigures. A timing device is provided for limiting the time period duringwhich the player may use the scissors. The timing device includes amovable pointer and a number of openings for receiving the blades of thescissors. When the blades are inserted into an opening, the sound timeris rendered inoperative until they are removed.

PATENTED JUU 3:91: 3; 592,469

SHEET 1 0F 2 VENTOQS MJPV/A L JfFFPf) 05 LOW ATTORNEY CUTTING GAME WITHTIMER This invention relates in general to games. In particular, thisinvention relates to games of skill suitable for use by children forimproving their manual skills. The invention also relates to a timerwherein an element cooperates with the timer to render it inoperativeuntil the element is removed.

The game apparatus of the invention generally comprises paper sheetmaterial having outline markings of simulated currency which may be cutout and used to purchase wearing apparel for dressing doll figures. Achance device is provided for indicating a time period during which agame player is allowed to use a scissors for cutting out the currency.The scissors cooperate with a presetable timing device for renderingboth inoperative except when the scissors is removed from the timerbase.

The primary object of this invention is to provide game apparatusparticularly suitable for use by girls.

Another object of this invention is to provide game apparatus whereinthe game players cut out simulated currency from sheet material asrapidly as possible for purchasing articles of clothing with which todress doll figures.

It also is an object of this invention to provide game upparatusincluding sheet material bearing designs which may be cut out with ascissors for improving the manual dexterity capabilities ofyoung gameplayers.

A further object of this invention is to provide a timer suitable foruse with a game or the like wherein an element is inserted into thewound timer and renders it inoperative until the element is removed.

Additional objects of this invention will become apparent to thoseversed in the game art upon an understanding of the following detaileddescription of the game apparatus taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the apparatusis shown, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the game apparatus of the inventionincluding a timer 10, a number of doll figures l2 and assorted wearingapparel 14 for dressing the doll figures;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, elevational cross-sectional view ofthe timer 10of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the timer with portions of thetimer bell removed for clarity;

HO. 4 is a cross-sectional plan view of the timer mechanism taken alongline 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view ofa doll figure and an article ofwearing apparel; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view ofa template for use with the invention.

Turning now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, the game apparatus of theinvention generally comprises a timing device 10 forming a holder forthe blades of a scissors 11, a number of doll figures 12, assortedwearing apparel 14 for placement on the doll figures, paper sheetmaterial 16 having outline markings 120 simulating currency which may becut out with the scissors, and a spinner type chance device 18 forindicating the amount of time a player has to cut out the simulatedcurrency. The object ofthe game is to cut out the simulated currency asrapidly as possible in the permissible time in order to accumulatesufficient currency to purchase a wardrobe for the doll figures.

Turning now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, in addition to FIG. 1,the construction of the timing device 10 will be described in detail.The device comprises a housing 20 having an upper, generally planar,wall 22 hearing numerical indicia 24 disposed thereabout in the generalconfiguration of the numerals on the face of a clock. The timer housingfurther comprises a short front wall and a longer rear wall 31 whichcauses the timer face to slope forwardly for better visibility. Top wall22 forms a circularly shaped depression 33 having a bottom wall 32 andan annular sidewall portion 34.

A spring-driven timing mechanism 26 underlies walls 22- 32 and includesa frame having parallel, spaced-apart upper and lower frame walls 38 and40, respectively, and spaced apart sidewalls 42 and 44 which may beformrd integrat Wit lower frame wall 40. The frame is secured beneaththe housing walls by means of threaded fasteners 45 cooperating withoutwardly extending tabs 46 of frame wall 38.

A timer drive shaft 50 having a square cross section is journaledbetween upper and lower frame walls 38-40 and carries a coiled drivespring 54 which is secured at its interior end, not shown, to the shaft.An exterior end 56 of the drive spring is fixedly secured to frame wall44 by passing it through an aperture 60 formed by the wall and retainingthe end by means of an enlarged tab 58. An upper end 62 of shaft 50 isformed with a narrow, rectangular cross section and extends upwardlythrough an aperture 63 in frame wall 38 and an aligned aperture 64through the center of housing wall 32. An elongated pointer 65, havingan upwardly offset end 66, is secured to shaft end 62 for sweepingpivotal movement in overlying relation to wall 22.

Drive shaft 50 of the timing mechanism rotatably carries a large gear 68which continuously engages a spur gear 70 secured to a second shaft 72.Shaft 72 is slidably journaled in an elongated aperture 73 formed inwall 40 and a similar, aligned aperture, not shown, formed in wall 38,and is adapted for movement from one side of the elongated apertures tothe other. Shaft 72 also carries a large gear 74 which is selectivelycooperable with a smaller gear 76, depending upon the position of shaft72 in its elongated journals.

Gear 76 is supported on a third shaft 78 which is journaled betweenframe walls 38 and 40. Shaft 78 carries a second gear 80 whichcooperates with a pinion gear 82 rotatably supported on an escapementshaft 84 also journaled between walls 38 and 40. Shaft 84 includes astar-shaped wheel 86, the edges of which sequentially cooperate with theinterior of a V-shaped pocket 88 formed in a swinging lever 90 securedto a jour naled shaft 92.

As is well known in the art, star-wheel 86 and lever 90 form anescapement which restricts the rate at which the energy of spring 54 isreleased for moving pointer 65. The rate at which the spring energy isreleased in a function of the ratio of the gear train and the mass ofthe escapement lever. Rapid engagement of the points of star-wheel 86with the lever 90 produces an audible ticking sound which enchances therealism of the timer.

A bell 91 is located generally centrally of the timer in overlyingrelationship to pointer 65 and is supported on a Z-shaped bracket whichis suitably secured to circular wall 32 as by rivets 102. An upstandingportion 103 of the bracket 100 carries an irregularly formed spring 104having a depending tab 106 generally centrally of its length. A distalend 108 of the spring terminates with a striker for hitting the interiorof the bell.

An upstanding stud 110 is secured to pointer 65 in a suitable positionfor cooperating with depending tab 106 of the spring, to cam spring end108 inwardly as the pointer approaches its 12 o'clock position as itmoves in a counterclockwise direction. As the pointer attains the 12o'clock position, stud 110 releases the spring tab 106 and spring end108 moves rapidly outward causing the striker to hit the interior ofbell 91, signalling the end ofa preset time period.

Operationally, the timer is wound by manually rotating pointer 65clockwise from its 12 o'clock position to the desired position adjacentone of the numerals 24. Rotation of the pointer in the clockwisedirection winds coil spring 54 and causes clockwise movement of gear 63,as seen in FIG. 4, which rotates spur gear 70 counterclockwise causingshaft 72 to shift to the right in its elongated apertures. This movementdisengages gear 74 from pinion gear 76 and enables the timer to be setwithout the accompanying drag of the escapement.

Rectangular openings 112 are provided inwardly adjacent each numeral 24for receipt of the closed blades of scissors 11. Upon setting the timerby moving its pointer to the desired numerical indicia, the blades ofthe scissors may be inserted in a corresponding opening 112 to preventthe pointer from moving, thereby rendering the timer inoperative. Uponremoval of the scissors from opening I12, the timer is immediatelyrendered operative and begins marking off a given period of time.Simultaneously, the user acquires control over the scissors for use inthe game activity. This provides a foolproof method for increasing theaccuracy of the indicated timer period and for preventing a player frombeginning his turn prior to starting the timing device.

As seen in FIG. ii, the game apparatus of the invention also includesthe spinner-type chance device 18 having a freely rotatable hand 116 andnumerical indicia 118 correlated to the indicia ofthe timer.

A number of paper cutout sheets are provided, such as the representativesheet l6, and have double outline markings 120 which simulate currencyhaving various denominations such as $.50, $1.00 and $5.00. As noted inFIG. i, the larger currency denominations have larger outlineperipheries, so that a greater amount of time is required to cut out asimulated piece of currency having a $5.00 denomination, than isrequired to cut out currency having a l .00 denomination.

As shown in FIG. 6, the game apparatus may also include a template 122having openings 123 in the shape of the currency outlines for producingadditional currency outlines on plain paper upon exhaustion of themarked cutout sheets originally supplied with the game apparatus.

Finally, as best seen in FlGS. l and 5 the game apparatus includes anumber of doll figures 12 supported on blocks H24 and having forwardlyprojecting pegs 126 on which the wearing apparel 14 may be retained.Appropriately placed slits 127 are provided through the apparel toassist in placing it on the pegs. in the illustrated embodiment, thewearing apparel is stored on hooks i128 carried on a clothing rack 130.Each item of wearing apparel has a price 131 which denotes its cost.While only one wardrobe is shown in the illustrated embodi ment, acomplete set of clothing is provided for each doll figure.

in the play of the game, each of the game players seek to cut out thesimulated currency as rapidly as possible in order to purchase clothingoutfits for their doll figure. A first player operates spinner B8 whichdetermines the time period which that player has to cutout her currency.The timer is set to the numeral indicated by the spinner, by manuallymoving pointer 24 clockwise to the proper numeral indication andinserting the closed blades of scissors 11 in the adjacent slot 112. asshown in FIG. i. Upon removal of the scissors, the timer begins tooperate to the accompanying ticking sound of the escapement and theplayer proceeds to carefully cut out the currency as rapidly as possiblein the denomination which she chooses. The currency must be out withinthe double lines 120. The players compete to cut a sufficient amount ofcurrency to purchase the clothing outfits. The first player to sosucceed, wins the game.

What has been described is a game apparatus and a timing device whereinthe game players compete against the timing device to cut out papercurrency for purchase of clothing outfits with which to dress dollfigures.

While the game apparatus of the described embodiment comprises papercurrency which is cut out for purchase ofdoll clothing, otherembodiments of the game apparatus may include cutout outlines of toyvehicle accessories which are adapted for placement directly onsimulated cars or trucks.

it is obvious that upon study by those skilled in the art, the disclosedgame apparatus may be altered or modified without departing from itsinventive concept.

What we claim is:

1. Game apparatus comprising: a scissors; a plurality of paper sheetshaving simulated currency outline markings on said sheets suitable to becut out with said scissors; simulated commodities suitable for purchasewith the currency; and timing means for measuring a time period duringwhich a player is allowed to cut out said currency; said timing meansforming a temporary support for the blades of said scissors andcooperating therewith to render the timing means and the scissorsinoperative until removal of the latter.

2. The game apparatus as set forth in cla1m 1, including additionally:doll figures; and wherein said commodities comprise wearing apparel fordressing said doll figures.

3. The game apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including additionally: aplurality of doll figures; and wherein the length of the cuttingperimeter of the simulated currency is directly related to itspurchasing value; wherein said commodities comprise wearing apparel forsaid doll figures; and wherein the game players compete to acquiresufficient currency to purchase wearing apparel for clothing said dollfigures.

4. Game apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said timing meanscomprise a faceplate bearing numerical indicia and defining an openingadjacent each indicia suitable for holding the blades of said scissors;a motor-driven pointer supported adjacent said faceplate for movementrelative thereto and cooperating with the scissors in its supportedposition to thereby render said timing means inoperative and saidscissors unusable; whereby said timer is rendered operational and saidscissors simultaneously rendered usable upon removal of the blades fromthe opening.

1. Game apparatus comprising: a scissors; a plurality of paper sheetshaving simulated currency outline markings on said sheets suitable to becut out with said scissors; simulated commodities suitable for purchasewith the currency; and timing means for measuring a time period duringwhich a player is allowed to cut out said currency; said timing meansforming a temporary support for the blades of said scissors andcooperating therewith to render the timing means and the scissorsinoperative until removal of the latter.
 2. The game apparatus as setforth in claim 1, including additionally: doll figures; and wherein saidcommodities comprise wearing apparel for dressing said doll figures. 3.The game apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including additionally: aplurality of doll figures; and wherein the length of the cuttingperimeter of the simulated currency is directly related to itspurchasing value; wherein said commodities comprise wearing apparel forsaid doll figures; and wherein the game players compete to acquiresufficient currency to purchase wearing apparel for clothing said dollfigures.
 4. Game apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said timingmeans comprise a faceplate bearing numerical indicia and defining anopening adjacent each indicia suitable for holding the blades of saidscissors; a motor-driven pointer supported adjacent said faceplate formovement relative thereto and cooperating with the scissors in itssupported position to thereby render said timing means inoperative andsaid scissors unusable; whereby said timer is rendered operational andsaid scissors simultaneously rendered usable upon removal of the bladesfrom the opening.